False–negatives due to poor specimens can be prevented based on the macroscopic findings for breast Vacuum–Assisted Biopsy specimens

Purpose : Ultrasound-guided breast tissue biopsy is an essential technique for diagnosing breast disease, but sample errors reduce its accuracy. This study investigated whether the histopathological results can be inferred from the macroscopic findings for Ultrasound-guided breast Vacuum Assisted Biopsy (VAB) specimens. Methods: Biopsy specimens from 101 patients who underwent mammary gland VAB were photographed with a smartphone, and the relationships between the macroscopic findings and the pathological results were examined. Results : A significant difference was observed with regard to the presence / absence of turbidity: malignancy was detected in 33 / 37 (89%) specimens with turbidity and in 2 / 47 (4%) cases without turbidity (p < 0.001). A significant difference was also observed regarding the surface properties : malignancy was detected in 14 / 70 (19%) smooth specimens and in 24 / 29 (83%) rough specimens (p < 0.001). Also, malignancy was detected in 11 / 13 (85%) specimens with white spots, and the difference was significant (p < 0.001). In addition, the characteristics of intraductal papilloma, fibroadenoma, and mastopathy could be confirmed by macroscopic findings. Conclusions : When needle–biopsy of a lesion that is targeted for resection yields macroscopic findings that match the predicted histopathological findings, it can be thought that the biopsy had been properly performed. This means that false–negatives due to poor specimens can be prevented.